Use Windows 7 RC for a year

When Microsoft makes the already-leaked release candidate for Windows 7 available for everyone next Tuesday, May 5th, they're giving the software away for a year. Its expiration date is June 1, 2010, so you can play with the shiny, smooth, all-fixed, wonderful operating system from Microsoft for almost 13 months before you have to pony up. The real, shipping version will be available toward the end of this year (it could ship as early as October 23), but that pre-shipping test "release candidate" works so well, why buy the final version?

The stickier question is, how will all of us feel about paying for Windows 7 after using it free for more than a year? Studies show that it feels great to have something given to you for free, but it hurts a whole lot more (and it's a whole lot more memorable), when something is taken away from you. But then, Microsoft is probably willing to risk this conundrum, desperately wanting to shed the negative PR juju it built up with Vista.

If you've been testing out some of the various beta builds up until now, Microsoft recommends that you start from scratch with this release candidate, also known as build a 7100. However, if you don't feel like redoing everything on your PC, there is a workaround, and it's as easy as changing one number in one file, and then you can upgrade to the release candidate.

Don’t forget you can start downloading it tomorrow.

[Dvice via PC Pro]

To Beta or Not To Beta?

Many tech enthusiasts have ventured into the waters of trying a computer program that is a "Beta" product- A product still under construction from both a coding and quality assurance point of view. When anyone does this; they are taking a risk (albeit a calculated one if you're experienced and have confidence in a company's ability to put out beta builds that are stable).

The thing is, it's still a risk. One way to mitigate that risk is to either have a test partition on your hard drive that you can choose to boot to; or run a virtual machine which provides a "sandbox" that more or less faithfully reproduces an operating system. (I highly recommend ALWAYS going this route; even if it's something you trust)

Why?

Because if you don't, other software may become unstable (your whole OS for instance) if a new dll file is installed overwriting one that other programs depend on to be stable. New programs sometimes upgrade known dll's (or other file types) without your knowledge; and whats worse, just because you uninstall the "beta" program; many 9if not most) times files from the beta are not either removed or placed back to it's prior state.

This can be any kind of file and can happen on a Mac OSX, Linux, Windows, or any other type of O.S.

Vista has made some strides in this area by segregating installed files from each other so that installing something (in theory) shouldn't crash other apps or your OS altogether.

So my question is regarding the new beta of Google Chrome, and/or Microsoft's IE8 Beta II. of those who've tried it out. Are you protecting yourself by installing it in a "non-live" environment? If you're installing it on a live environment; make a case for why you think it's no big deal.

The only reason I can think of to do my last proposal is because you have shadow copies, or frequently ghosted images of your system.

Also, whether you've installed the beta of Google Chrome or IE8 beta II; have you noticed any degraded performance on your O.S. or other apps? (test or not).

And finally; if you do use a test system for betas, what do you use? Microsoft's Virtual PC? VMWare? Zen? other hard drive or partition.

This should be an interesting discussion.

Still on XP? Try Release Candidate 3

Ok, I don't want to explain the obvious to geeks "in the know"; but some folks might not be aware of what a Release Candidate is. A release candidate is software that is done with Beta Testing. The release candidate may in fact be the final code to be released. it ususally availible to everyone; and occasionally they may put out a second release candidate if a situation arises. Bugs should be OUT of the code having been Beta tested by this time. Usually the only thing that might change between the first or second release candidates is a feature set.
Ok, now that that's out of the way; Service Pack 3 (SP3) for Windows XP is FINALLY out as a Release Candidate (RC). What does this mean? You can download SP3 and install it to your XP PC and it will not only have all the bug fixes and features added since SP2; but it will have new features as well. SP2 has been one of the most stable points in any Operating System's life. But it's long in the tooth now.
Many folks out there who have heard horror stories about Vista are not willing to jump to that new platform. These folk are the people targeted to use SP3 for Windows XP. It's from Microsoft, and it doesn't cost a dime. It is particularly useful for folks who want to install/reinstall their XP system. By downloading and installing SP3, you save all the time you would spend having to individually update every little bug fix, new feature put out over the last few years for XP. It's all rolled into SP3.
I will close by saying that this is not a word of caution. By the time a product is at RC1 level; it should be completely stable. If you choose to install SP3 (RC1); you will not lose any feature or program. Soon (January or February) the FINAL SP3 will be released and you can update you RC version to the FINAL version painlessly.

Typically RC's are installed by Geeks who want to taste the future before the masses. I happen to be one of those. (and PROUDLY!) ZDNet's Mary Joe Foley tells you all you need to know and gives you links to download and install SP3 (RC1) right here.

Have fun!!!

Open Letter Calls Out Microsoft, Ballmer

If you keep up with the inner workings of Microsoft, I'm sure you know that Steve Ballmer can be a nut case sometimes. He is certainly not a fan of Google, and at times has given us gems like "Google’s not a real company. It’s a house of cards.". And he certainly can't stand Linux, which I don't understand,because it's not like it's a threat to him or his company. But I love this quote from him:

"Linux is a cancer that attaches itself in an intellectual property sense to everything it touches."

Well he's pissed off one person that is calling him out on some shady practices. François Bancilhon of Mandriva wrote an open letter to Steve about a deal that his company had locked up to deliver Linux PC's for Nigerian school kids. After the deal was complete MS back stabbed them by convincing the government to install Windows over the Mandriva Linux software.

The letter is a short read, and if you don't like Microsoft, you owe it to yourself to read it.
Thanks to Crunchgear for this.

An open letter to Steve Ballmer [Mandriva’s blog via Crunchgear]

Fastest Windows Vista Notebook: Macbook Pro

There is something just kinda wrong about this, but apparently the fastest Windows Vista notebook is on a Macbook Pro. Yeah I know, it made me throw up a little in my mouth to when I heard about it. But the guys at PC World tested it, and the WorldBench 6 Beta 2 score of 88 beats the Gateway's E-265M by one point.

So if you're looking to run Vista super fast and smooth, buy a Macbook Pro?
Man I can't even say it with a straight face!

[PC World via Gizmodo]

Preview of the next Windows Core

Many people are understandably miffed that vista is so huge/bloated. For a long time, people have been wanting Windows to be a better O.S. without being filled with every kind of app you can think of.

Well, it looks like Microsoft is listening, and the next version of it's core will be much lighter. At this point it has the nickname "WinMin".

ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley reports on the interesting future that seems to be taking shape. Read all about it here.

Vista SP1: Looking Good So Far

Well good news for you early adopters of Windows Vista. PC Magazine has a preview of the SP1 beta that is out, and the returns are sounding pretty good. Neil Randall who is the reviewer states that Vista runs faster, and noted that there are lots more driver support than the launch version. He also states that application windows open faster and file copying is quicker.

It is due out in Q1 of 2008, along with SP3 for Windows XP.

[PC Magazine via Gizmodo]

Microsoft Busts Piracy Ring In China

Microsoft is feeling very good about themselves today after having a chance to play CSI. The FBI and the Chinese authorities made one of the biggest busts in software history, after a $500 million dollar piracy ring was broken up.

Windows Genuine Advantage informed users that the 'OEM software' they were trying to activate was a pirated version of Vista, and worked with the users to track down the said pirates.

Hit the jump to read the article. [WindowsVistaBlog via Crunchgear]

No Vista SP1 Until 2009?

I know that this is a dirty rumor that has no flip'n chance of being real, at least for Microsoft's sake it better not be.

But the rumors are that Microsoft will not release SP1 for Vista until 2009 at the earliest. Valleywag.com reported that “Microsoft has apparently told executives at one of the world’s largest PC makers not to expect a formal release of Windows Vista SP1 — the first major set of upgrades and bug fixes to its Vista operating system — until 2009 at the earliest.”

It might explain the comments today from Gianfranco Lanci who is the CEO of Acer. If this is true, I'm starting to think that Microsoft deserves some of the fun that Apple pokes at them.

This is just bad. [Valleywag.com via Crunchgear]

Lanci: Windows Vista Is A Disappointment

Acer Boss man Gianfranco Lanci has gone on record, dissing Windows Vista stating that he's 'disappointed' with the application. Lanci, is the first major PC maker to go on record stating that Vista isn't that good.

Lanci said that the OS had many problems, and that it gave businesses and users no reason to buy a new computer. He also stated that many people are still asking for Windows XP to be loaded on their new machine. Check the quote:

"The whole industry is disappointed with Windows Vista, despite the long wait between Windows XP and Vista, the latest operating system still lacks maturity, he said. "Stability is certainly a problem."

Hopefully, the SP1 will turn it around for Vista.
Hit the jump to read the article. [PC World via Crunchgear]

Safair 3 beta: Windows ready?

I'm a firefox man, but if you're a Windows user who is interested in trying Safari 3 beta is now available .

Steve Jobs said today that Safari is faster than Internet Explorer and Firefox. Fastest browser on Windows? If that's true, can it compete with Firefox's extension library? I think not, but I also use iTunes on my PC.

I'll believe it when I see it!!!

Think you'll ever switch to Safari on your PC?

Check out the beta after the jump. [Apple]

Good News for the Undecided

It looks like the new release of Boot Camp for Mac OS has been released. Boot Camp 1.3 will allow you to either boot into Windows, or Mac OS.

More info at the jump.

Windows Vista: Up Close, Personal

Ars Technica is running a massive article on the innards of Vista. As I mentioned before, I like Vista and I think it’s a good product. As a mater of fact, I'm writing this article on a Vista laptop.

Clearly there’s very little here we didn’t already know — UAC keeps us safe, Bill Gates is love — but it’s nice to have it all in once place.

If you're thinking about making the jump to Vista, check the somewhat short article out. It might be worth your time.

Windows Vista: Under the Hood [ArsTechnica]

Xbox 360 Spring update today

Xbox 360 Spring update will be out as of May 9th at 2am PST. If you don't remember about this, just check out the video above to get a refresher.

I think I may wait for a while before updating, I just want to make sure people aren't downloading their consoles into bricks with new Microsoft ware.

Old Windows superstitions die hard.

Vista draining laptop batteries, patience

Vista draining laptop batteries, patience
By Tom Krazit, CNET News.com
Published on ZDNet News: May 4, 2007, 4:00 AM PT

Some of Microsoft's most important customers aren't happy with the battery life offered by notebooks running Windows Vista.

"It's a little scary," said John Wozniak, a distinguished technologist in Hewlett-Packard's notebook engineering department, referring to the work HP needed to do on making Windows Vista more suitable for notebooks.

Read more about the article after the jump.